Bethesda Evangelical Mission

What an amazing weekend!  Not only did Go Ministries provide HELO with a flight to les Cayes, they opened their warehouse and allowed us to “shop” to fill the plane to capacity.  What joy, what a blessing to go from pile to pile, choosing antibiotics, IV fluids, pedialyte, baby formula, MORE TENTS, 125 pound bags of rice and 90 pound bags of beans, and other food items….we filled the plane to capacity and arrived in les Cayes with approximate 2000 lbs of relief supplies, which we sorted well into the night for the clinic set up in the “tent city”, the hospital, HELO orphanage, and Pastor Jean’s brother’s orphanage in Leogane.

Saturday morning we loaded the sorted bags onto the bus and headed to the soccer stadium.  We delivered the medical supplies to the clinic there.  The doctor told me, with tears in his eyes, that he was going to shut the clinic down because he had no supplies.  God is so good!  After visiting with refugees, playing with children, praising God with the residents of the tent city under an army tarp, we reluctantly piled back onto the bus to continue to the hospital.  We were surprised to find our new friend, Ashlie, who had been hiding on the bus, wanting to come “home” with us.  It broke my heart to know that was not yet possible and have her carried off the bus, kicking and screaming.

We then delivered approximately 40 cans of baby formula to the pediatric wing of Immaculate Conception Hospital (a/k/a General Hospital), spending time with the children there, holding babies, praying with many children and parents.  It was again very difficult to leave, very difficult to not be able to do more for the many injured children and traumatized parents.  Ellen was most affected by a little baby who was orphaned, no one at the bedside.  I was most affected by a little boy, eight years old whose leg was broken, both parents died in the earthquake.  The pain in his eyes was excruciating.  I knelt and asked if I could pray for him and he tearfully said, “yes please”.  I spoke to his uncle who was sitting on the bed, wringing his hands in desperation.  I asked if the boy had pain medication and the uncle replied, there is medication, but I have no money to buy it, tears beginning to flow.  I asked how much he needed (250 goudes, about $7.00) and gave him the money.  Jeff, with tears in his eyes, reached in his pocket and gave him another $20.  Bed after bed, children in need.  We purchased diapers and did what we could, leaving in tears wishing we could do more.

The next stop was the HELO orphanage where we set up tents, enjoyed laughter and many hugs with the children.  After the pain and overwhelming need of the day, the experience of these beautiful children on their knees at bedtime, singing praises and call and response prayer thanking God for the blessings in their lives, I was overwhelmed with emotion, love and gratitude, and the reassurance that what we are doing is working, we must duplicate it and allow more children to be so blessed.  It is my prayer that many of the children I met at the soccer field, in the hospital, children who are orphaned, hurting and afraid, be provided with such a loving and nurturing home.

We again worked late into the night, sitting on the bus with Nene, Miriame and our driver, Jolince, to prepare for the food distribution on Sunday.  Jeff scooped beans into a bag Ellen held, passing it off to me to tie.  Miriame scooped rice into a bag, passed to Jolince, to which I added the bag of beans.  Nene held the flashlight so we could all see.  Teamwork, fellowship, it was a blessed time.  The HELO team then piled into the tent to join many of the children we thought were sleeping.  Giggling broke out and singing followed, the sky illuminate by a beautiful full moon.  Although we got very little sleep, it was a night like no other and one that any of us will ever forget.  Daylight brought the rest of the children, and the tent became more like a moon bounce than a bedroom!

The HELO team had the privilege of worshipping at Pastor Nene’s church in Boujolie where we were welcomed very warmly, many parishioners recognized us from the Christmas party.  It was a beautiful time of worship followed by the food distribution.  The team, together with HELO’s children and pastors and church elders made a line from the bus into the sanctuary and the bags of rice and beans were passed down the line.  50 bags of rice and beans were distributed peacefully and the children joyfully participated.  God is good!

Before leaving Camp Perrin, we walked to HELO’s property, looked at the school and building projects (second home and latrines).  Tents will soon dot that property, housing ten children and caregivers until the second home is completed.  All is in place and children will arrive this week.

Due to the overwhelming need and swelling population of orphaned children in les Cayes and surrounding villages, I have been asked to take 20 children.  This will mean building a third home and hiring another staff of caregivers and cook.  I saw the need, I felt the pain, but I need your help to respond.

Haiti’s future is her children.  We need to invest in them.  Will you help me?  Will you consider sponsoring a child or contributing to the building fund so that we may provide Home Education and Opportunity to at least twenty of the children orphaned by this earthquake.  Please visit HeloHaiti.com to learn more and to donate or sponsor a child.

I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Jeff Francis for all his assistance in contacting organizations flying to les Cayes, to Jane Kearns of CARE (Corporate Aircraft Responding in Emergencies) for the many phone calls, for listening and opening her heart to understand the need in les Cayes, to Tom Lawson of StategyAero and Ken George of Go Ministries for the donated flight and supplies from their warehouse.  It is difficult to describe the magnitude of this experience, wonderful people coming together from all over the country and beyond to get needed supplies and hope to refugees in les Cayes.   I saw the weight lift from Pastor John during our visit, and it was a blessing.  He stood on the tarmac as the plane was being unloaded.  With tears in his eyes and shook his head and said, “who would have thought little Elisabeth could do something so big”, to which I responded “Bondye kapab”, with God all things are possible.  I thank God for each and every connection that made this trip a reality, a very big answer to my prayers to be of service to Him in Haiti.

I pray that He continues to bless HELO and enable us to improve the lives of Haiti’s children.  As I prayerfully consider opening a third home, I ask that you join me in prayer for the beautiful children of Haiti and for God to show each of us how to best provide Haiti’s children the loving home and education every child deserves.

May God bless you and God bless Haiti.

We know how important it is for you to hear from us, for us it is a priority to update you on the beautiful stories that have taken place over the past 24 hours.

This morning we unpacked our goods and shared them with 3 different areas. The orphanage, the hospital, and the soccer field. Elisabeth Kennedy, the co-founder of the HELO Orphanage will share with you some of the stories that she thinks you should know.

Today was a powerful day. The doctor at the soccer field told us that he would close the clinic today if hadn't come with the meds we brought with us. Another woman asked us to please take some of the children she had with her, because their mother died during the earthquake, and now she doesn't know what she will do with these kids. One of them was little Kenley Policard. He is 11 years old and fits the profile of a candidate for the next HELO orphanage. A little girl named Ashley suddenly fell in love with the HELO team and she didn't want to get out of our bus. It was truly hard to tell her she can't come with us.

This young man appeared in our first report after the earthquake. He came to thank BEM for providing the care that saved his life. He is now smiling!

Upon our visit to the hospital we saw many children in need of things. There were babies who had no formula to drink so BEM/HELO provided 2 cases of formula for different age groups. It was so difficult to see so many children injured, little girls alone, we just wanted to hold them and give them a loving home. We sincerely hope that our partners in the ministry would be generous and help us to provide the resources so we can continue the building of our second HELO home, so we can make it another place for Home, Education, Love, and Opportunity.

According to Pastor Jean, the school of HELO is among the few schools currently in operation! We are so glad to report that our 15 children at HELO are healthy and happy. Tomorrow these children will be taking part in our food distribution process, and they are very excited about it.

Tonight we are also excited to spend the night with them, a night that will be in our memories for many years to come!

If there is any consolation from the disaster that Haiti has encountered in the last few weeks, it has shown us that we need more homes like HELO and that we should do all we can to help make these homes a reality.

A special thanks to Sue Kearns of Care International and Ken George of GO Ministries for making this trip a reality and affecting so many lives. We also would like to thank all who have generously provided the necessary funds to make it possible for us to make such a difference here in Haiti.

May God Bless you all, and may God bless Haiti.